The 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee is like most Jeeps: The perfect SUV for muddy riverbanks, broken roads, and dirt trails, and absolutely terrible for daily commuting and trips to the grocery store. The 2004 model is priced to move, but makes up the savings with higher-than-average fuel and maintenance costs.
Is the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 8/10 – Rating it for what it is, it’s easily one of the best off-road vehicles you’re going to find at any price. Rating it as a daily driver, you’d have to give it a three out of ten.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 7/10 – The SUV is spacious and there’s room for whatever you want to carry with you, but Jeep suspension is an acquired taste and may feel a bit rough for some drivers.
- Reliability 7/10 – The engine and powertrain will probably hit 250,000 miles, but you’re going to be spending a lot of money on little fixes here and there.
- Safety 7/10 – The safety tech is dated by now, but the unibody design makes for a durable frame.
- Gas Mileage 6/10 – Even by 2004 off-road SUV standards, 15/20 miles to the gallon, city/highway, isn’t great.
- Value 7/10 – When you see the sticker price, you’ll think you’ve hit the jackpot. When you see your first repair bill, you’ll understand why the previous owner was in such a hurry to get rid of it.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Consumer Reports found the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee unimpressive in almost every way, except for off-road performance, and that basically sets the tone.
Kelley Blue Book owners praise the 2004 Grand Cherokee as reliable, comfortable, powerful, and, you guessed it, ideal for off-roading, if lacking as a daily driver.
Edmunds adds to the consensus that the Grand Cherokee is a capable all-terrain vehicle, but feels too truck-like for city driving, and it’s noisy and “unrefined.”
What Common Problems Does the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Have?
The 2004 Grand Cherokee has been recalled for inadvertent airbag deployment three times, but airbag issues continue to dominate the SUV’s complaints page with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, making up 324 out of 1,288 total reports. Issues range from blinking airbag lights to failure to deploy.
The front seat frame has been reported to break prematurely, leaving drivers with wobbly seating. Unfortunately, the only way to fix this is to weld it back together, with some drivers reporting the seat breaking in whole new places after the fix.
Powertrain issues are within reason for a twenty year old SUV, but drivers have reported abnormal sounds and shaking while in motion. These symptoms often point to transmission failure, with some drivers reporting breakdown before hitting 120,000 miles.
The 2004 Grand Cherokee has 14 recalls on file with the NHTSA, which sounds a bit high, but that’s kind of what you expect with a Jeep.
How Long Will the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Last?
Grand Cherokee drivers have reported half a million miles on the original engine and transmission. That’s probably not going to happen with a used model. But, if you’re buying one that’s already passed 140,000 miles, its chances of passing 250,000 miles are pretty good.
RepairPal report an annual maintenance cost of around $666. Some of the more expensive common fixes included total replacements for the timing chain and gear set, starting at around $1,997, and new oil pumps at $895.
No problems. I find it very reliable. And very good on gas . We’re the second owner of our 04 and it’s been taken care of
Yes it’s very reliable. It’s good on gas if it’s serviced regularly and the tire pressure is good. No problems at the moment and a feature on the car tells you if something is wrong.
I haven't had anything major go wrong I get my oil changes every 3 months I've had a new battery put in but other than that it’s been great!
No main problems. Just the usual maintains stuff you need to do. The car is a all out good vehicle. I would recommend jeep to anyone.
Yes! This car has been going with minimal problems for years. The door is creaky now but nothing major
It has been very reliable. Of course little things have happened during the 110,000+ mile lifespan, but we would replace it with another one.
Very reliable in all weather. The rear window is a little too darkly tinted for my comfort. The seats adjust nicely.
Air conditioning could use updating doesn't seem to blow cold air as good as it should seems to be good reliable car
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology is good for a 2004 SUV. The base Laredo trim comes packed with a CD player with six speakers and the Overland includes a ten-disc CD changer with steering wheel mounted controls. This is 2004, so you can forget Bluetooth connectivity, but it’s not bad for a twenty year old vehicle.
Safety features are, likewise, good but dated. Power anti-lock brakes and full airbags are about as high-tech as it got back in 2004.
Is the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee a Good Value?
The 2004 Grand Cherokee is a pretty good value, if you’re just looking at the sticker price. With the mid-range Limited typically listing for around $4,505 in the Blue Book, the SUV is priced to move.
Cost of ownership is another matter. Maintenance costs are a bit high, minor fixes are frequent, and fuel economy isn’t great, at just 14/21 miles to the gallon, city/highway, in a basic Laredo model. This is why Jeeps are great weekend cars, but terrible daily drivers.
You’re getting the best value with the Overland model, as it prices at just a couple hundred dollars more than the entry-level Laredo.
What are the Different Models of the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The 2004 Grand Cherokee is offered in just three trim levels, from the base Laredo to the high-end Overland.
The entry-level Laredo features:
- Power windows and door locks
- Manual air conditioning
- CD player with six speakers
- 6-way power driver seat
- Premium cloth seating
With the mid-range Limited you’re adding:
- Heated mirrors
- Leather seating
- Dual zone automatic air conditioning
- Remote keyless entry
- Fog lights
At the top of the line, the Overland adds:
- Power sunroof
- 10-disc CD changer
- Leather wrapped steering wheel with wood trim
- 10-way power adjust front seats
- Lux leather seating
What Engines Come In the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
- A 4.0L inline-six Power Tech engine comes standard in the Laredo, delivering 195 horsepower and 230 lb.-ft. of torque in four-wheel mode, or 235 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. in two-wheel. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission, averages 16/21 miles to the gallon, city/highway, and can tow up to 5,000 pounds, depending on your options.
- Next up is a 4.7L V8 Power Tech with hydraulic cooling. Four wheel drive capable, paired to a 5-speed automatic transmission, and delivers 265 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine averages 15/20 miles to the gallon, and can tow up to 6,500 pounds.
What Colors Does the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The Grand Cherokee advertises that it can seat five adults, and it actually can, with 50.9 inches of rear hip room. The seating is comfortable and the interior is spacious. The suspension, on the other hand, is an acquired taste. That is to say, it feels like a Jeep.
Jeeps are known for their rugged, off-road oriented suspension. Some people love it, some people hate it. It bears repeating: Jeeps are great weekend vehicles, and terrible daily drivers, and the rough suspension is part of the reason why that is.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Have?
The Grand Cherokee packs 39 cubic feet of cargo with the seats up, 72.3 with the seats down. It’s basically a pickup truck with some extra seats in the back so you’ve got more than enough space for whatever it is you want to bring with you on your next adventure.
Usually you’d measure trunk space in suitcases, with the Grand Cherokee you could say it’ll pack a couple 100 quart coolers and a medium charcoal grill.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
2004 was the sixth and final model year for the 2nd Generation “WJ” Grand Cherokee.
2002: The Overland made its debut in 2002 with leather seating, premium audio, and classy wood trim setting it apart from the Limited.
2003: Jeep added GPS navigation for 2003, a must in any adventure vehicle.
2004: The Grand Cherokee got a few visual tweaks for 2004, namely new fascias and some cool looking “Trail Rated 4×4” badges on the four-wheel drive models.
2005: The 3rd Generation relaunch of the Grand Cherokee saw a subtle redesign with sleeker edges and the addition of active suspension and electronic differentials.
2006: Jeep introduced the Grand Cherokee SRT8 for 2006, boasting an incredible 425 horsepower 6.1L V8 under the hood.
2007: Jeep added a diesel engine and a flex-fuel V8 to the lineup for 2007.
How Does the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Compare to the Competition?
Jeep have carved out a niche where there really isn’t much competition, sacrificing everyday practicality for off-road performance. But, the 2004 Toyota 4Runner may be a worthwhile alternative if you’re looking for an outdoorsy vehicle with slightly better fuel economy.
The 2004 Ford Explorer is another option for a more versatile SUV. Although its off-road capabilities don’t quite match up to those of the Grand Cherokee, it does sell for around a thousand dollars less, from trim to trim.
If you’re after a Jeep, you’re probably after a Jeep, not the next best thing to it. Whether we’re talking Wranglers or Cherokees, a Jeep might be the best second vehicle you ever own, something to take out on camping and fishing trips, but it’s a terrible grocery-getter.
Do Owners Recommend the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Yes very reliable and enough space for my growing family, to fit comfortably. Also allows us to go to the mountains with no worries
Yes it is, it’s very durable, gets good gas mileage it’s very low maintenance and very spacious with good features.
Yes it has been a good vehicle. It’s been on many camping trips and has been very dependable. I hope to keep it a lot longer
Yes, love the straight 6 engine and 4 wheel drive. The interior is amazing. Love the look of the vehicle. Has a decent amount of power.
Yes! Jeeps are reliable cars and my family has had Jeeps for years. They are also safe and trustworthy.
Yes, has 111,411 miles and running great. I have no desire to replace it. Sound system has always impressed me.
Yes, sturdy and functional,good-looking. Lots of cargo space, comfortable front and rear seats. Like the door pickets and extra storage for back seat.
Yes it a very nice vehicle has a lot of room runs good could have a better air conditioning four door hatchback looks nice